The $10-billion glass-to-financial services major Piramal Enterprises is in talks with PTC India to acquire its subsidiary PTC Energy’s 290 mw wind assets as part of their strategy to expand investments in renewable sector – wind and solar – people close to the development told FE.

Piramal Group is planning to acquire the entire wind portfolio of PTC India across Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, which is likely to cost the company around Rs 2,200 crore, the sources said. PTC India recently mandated KPMG to advise on various fund-raising options where it may sell a major stake in the wind power business to a strategic investor or look at complete sale of assets.

When contacted, PTC India spokesperson said in an email response that, “PTC India is considering various options for funding growth of its subsidiary PTC Energy (PEL), including getting a suitable strategic investor on board. Beyond this, we have nothing to share.” Spokesperson of Piramal Capital and Housing Finance, a financial services arm of Piramal Enterprises, refused to comment, saying “We do not comment on speculations.”

While PTC India is looking to exit its wind power portfolio, Piramal Enterprises has been investing into renewable portfolios across India as renewable sector is witnessing significant consolidation. In the last three years, the group has invested close to Rs 2,800 crore in renewable companies such as Renew Power, Essel Infrastructure, and ACME Solar through its global investment partners.

Piramal on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian Pension Plan and Investment Board (CPPIB) to co-sponsor an infrastructure investment trust to invest in renewable assets with a corpus of $600 million or Rs 4,200 crore. Ajay Piramal, chairman of Piramal Group, said, the renewable energy sector is at an inflection point and is witnessing significant consolidation, the pace of which is likely to increase in the near future.

“We believe that the timing is opportune for aggregating assets in this sector, given that existing players are willing sellers in light of a constrained capital market environment in both debt and equity,” Piramal said.

FILE PHOTO: The logo of German industrial group Siemens is seen in Zurich, Switzerland, January 30, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD

Siemens is spinning off its gas and power business, which has dragged on the German engineering firm’s performance as the rise of renewable power hits demand for gas turbines.

The new firm would be a “major player” in energy with revenues of 27 billion euros ($30 billion) and more than 80,000 employees, Siemens said on Tuesday, adding that it would now focus on its Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure businesses.

Siemens said the Gas and Power division, which includes its oil and gas, conventional power generation, power transmission and related services businesses, will be set up as a standalone company with the aim of a public listing by September 2020.

Last week Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Siemens was considering carving out the unit, whose 2018 profit fell by 75 percent to 377 million euros ($421 million) as revenue dropped 19 percent.

“The new company won’t have to compete for resources with higher margin business like smart infrastructure and digital industries,” Siemens Chief Executive Joe Kaeser told reporters.

Siemens also plans to include its 59 percent stake in wind energy company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in Gas and Power.

The decision to separate the business, which will be led by Gas and Power head Lisa Davis, was approved by Siemens supervisory board, which met on Tuesday ahead of its second quarter figures on Wednesday.

The Munich-based company said it would remain an anchor shareholder in Gas and Power with between 25 and 50 percent.

“It’s the right thing to do; it’s necessary and courageous to trigger the planned changes when the company is doing well,” Siemens chairman Jim Hagemann Snabe said.STARVEDUnions also supported the decision, saying the business was better off outside Siemens.

“If the unit were to stay part of Siemens, investments would be further reduced. Thus the business would literally be starved to death,” Siemens works council head Birgit Steinborn, who is also deputy chairwoman of the company, said in a statement.

“With the planned initial public offering in Germany, co-determination will be maintained and Siemens remains committed to keeping jobs in Germany and Europe. In a joint venture, for example with a Japanese competitor, we would have seen that at great risk,” she added.

Siemens is targeting cost cuts of 2.2 billion by 2023 by cutting 10,400 jobs – mainly administration and support roles – at its remaining core units, including 3,000 at Smart Infrastructure and 4,900 at Digital Industries. The company will shed at least 10,400 jobs in the overhaul.

At the same time, Siemens plans to create 20,500 jobs by 2023, resulting in a net increase.For its Smart Infrastructure unit – which makes fire safety and security products, grid control or energy storage systems for buildings – Siemens is now targeting a profit margin of 13-15 percent by 2023.

Digital Industries – which among other products offers industrial software and automation solutions for companies – is targeting a margin of 17-23 percent.Kaeser stressed that Siemens has many options and plenty of time available for its rail unit Siemens Mobility.

Siemens tried to combine Mobility with listed peer Alstom , but scrapped the deal earlier this year as antitrust concerns mounted. Analysts expect that Siemens will eventually opt for a stock market listing for the unit. ($1 = 0.8948 euros)

'As the fastest growing pan-India private fuel retail network, we are expanding retail presence at an extensive pace,' says B. Anand, CEO, Nayara Energy.With this expansion, Nayara will retain its tag of the largest private fuel retailer in the country